The Home Office has reported that nine boats carrying 572 people were intercepted attempting to cross the Channel.
This latest surge in crossings follows Keir Starmer’s recent pledge to address the “national security threat” posed by people smugglers, which includes an additional £75 million in funding and the establishment of a specialized team of detectives.
Saturday’s arrivals of 572 people brought the total of small boat crossings this year to 32,691—a 22% increase from last year’s figure of 26,699, though still 18% lower than November 2022’s total of 39,929.
The Channel has also seen a rise in fatalities, with the French coastguard discovering four bodies off Calais last week. Excluding these cases, which remain under investigation, approximately 60 people have died attempting to cross the Channel this year—five times more than in 2023.
On Tuesday, Kent police recovered a man’s body from the Channel after being called to Dover’s lifeboat station.
Last Monday, the prime minister announced a plan to double funding for the UK’s border security command, increasing it to £150 million, during a speech at Interpol’s general assembly in Glasgow. This agency, launched in the summer, is tasked with strengthening border enforcement.
Starmer also recently outlined agreements with Serbia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo to improve intelligence sharing and cooperation, speaking at the European Political Community meeting in Budapest.
Enver Solomon, head of the UK charity Refugee Council, expressed doubts about the government’s “smash the gangs” slogan. He called instead for a well-managed, fair asylum system to support refugees. Solomon argued that while people smugglers should be held accountable, stricter enforcement has only led to overcrowded boats departing from increasingly dangerous locations.
Solomon emphasized that addressing the root causes of migration and offering safer, legal pathways for asylum seekers would more effectively deter dangerous crossings. He noted that desperate individuals fleeing conflict and persecution often feel they have no other option, and the lack of a comprehensive asylum policy only exacerbates the risks they face on their journeys.
